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The Washington Nationals have long been eliminated from playoff contention, but the Nats’ final series that begins today vs. Philadelphia still carries meaning in the standings.

No, the Nats can’t play spoiler vs. the Phillies, who have locked up the division title; but followers of the 4th-inning presidents race are finding a compelling story in the back-and-forth battle for first place between George Washington and two-time defending champion Abraham Lincoln.

Just one month ago, it appeared that George would finally end Lincoln’s two year stretch of presidents racing dominance; then Abe won 9 of 11 to soar into first place with a dominant lead in the standings heading into the final month of the season.

But last week, the father of our country returned the favor with a 5 game win streak of his own, creating a tie atop the standings with just a handful of races to go.

Predictably, the intense battle between George and Abe has led to some on-field incidents. On Friday night, Abe fell while jostling for position, but George tripped over Abe and Thomas Jefferson took the tape. In fact, TJ went on to win the next two as well, prompting some to question who wants it most.

For those looking for an excuse to catch one of the final Nats games of the season, here’s your story. The season title may come down to the wire on Wednesday night.